CBI plans more FIRs after coal status report

The CBI is likely to file more FIRs in the coal scam after it submits a status report before the Supreme Court on Tuesday where it will give details on the 14th FIR — against former coal secretary PC Parakh and Hindalco — and the 13 other ongoing cases.

“Though the matter will come up for hearing on October 29, we are filing a status report on October 22,” said a CBI official requesting anonymity. It has completed probe into four to five cases and chargesheets are being prepared.

The agency will also be informing the top court about the status of its probe into the missing files of coal block allocations. The CBI has registered two preliminary probes to ascertain criminal conspiracy behind the missing files.

More than a dozen companies such as AMR Iron and Steel, JLD Yavatmal Energy, Jindal Steel and Power etc., have been booked in the coal scam. Of the 14 FIRs filed, 13 correspond to a period when PM Manmohan Singh was handling the coal portfolio.

“We have to see whether it was simple administrative carelessness or the files went missing so as to benefit the accused companies,” said an investigator.